Wrongful death claims are civil legal actions that family members of a deceased person can file against an individual and/or entity that is responsible in some way for a person's death. Each state has specific wrongful death statutes, and the requirements and qualifications for filing wrongful death claims under those laws varies somewhat. However, in most states, only immediate family members are eligible to file wrongful death claims, although other family members may be permitted to file such claims in some states, under some circumstances. In other states, parties that are unrelated by blood to the deceased person, such as close friends, may also be eligible to file wrongful death claims, depending on the situation. Virtually any person or any type of company or business entity can be sued for wrongful death, based on the facts of the case. This would include hospitals, companies providing certain services, and employers of the person who acted negligently so as to cause the death of another person.